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College of Social and Behavioral Sciences2017-2018

Strategic Communication

Strategic Communication, Bachelor of Science

Available Emphasis Areas:

Advertising - Emphasis

Merchandising - Emphasis

Public Relations - Emphasis

This bachelor of science degree in Strategic Communication offers a strong core of advertising, public relations, and communication courses, to engage students in a variety of professional communication environments. Students may pursue one of three emphases to allow deeper skill mastery in advertising, merchandising, and public relations.

Careers

What Can I Do with a Bachelor of Science in Strategic Communication?

Prepare yourself for a career in communication - learn to craft effective advertising, nurture productive relationships between organizations and important publics, and bridge the gap between buyers and sellers in the world of merchandising. Research shows that many communication professionals commonly move between advertising, merchandising, and public relations throughout their careers. The Bachelor of Science in Strategic Communication will engage you in a broad portfolio of courses to give you flexibility and increase your competitive edge in today's job market.

The 24-hour core presents a strong foundation that includes advertising, communication, and public relations classes. You will then specialize in one of three areas by choosing an emphasis from advertising, merchandising or public relations of most interest to you. Throughout your coursework you will develop essential skills sought after in the workplace, including critical thinking, design, media (including online engagement), oral communication, and written communication.

With further education, one of these paths is possible:

Advertising manager

Comunications director

Public information officer

Publisher

University professor

Attorney

University Requirements

To receive a bachelor's degree at Northern Arizona University, you must complete at least 120 units of credit that minimally includes a major, the liberal studies requirements, and university requirements as listed below.

At least 30 units of upper-division courses, which may include transfer work.

At least 30 units of coursework taken through Northern Arizona University, of which at least 18 must be upper-division courses (300-level or above). This requirement is not met by credit-by-exam, retro-credits, transfer coursework, etc.

A cumulative grade point average of at least 2.0 on all work attempted at Northern Arizona University.

Recognizing the integrated nature of communication fields, Strategic Communication at Northern Arizona University provides a structural umbrella to enable advertising, merchandising and public relations students to master core principles and theory, as well as, develop critical thinking and practical skills essential in developing and implementing communication strategies across disciplines in a dynamic, consumer-based economy. Students learn techniques demanded by industry to be competitive in today’s job market yet recognize the social and cultural implications that their work has on our broader society.

Students will explain the roles of advertising, merchandising, and public relations in a dynamic, consumer-based economy.

Students will recognize key concepts and tools related to the advertising, merchandising, and public relations professions.

Students will summarize the history of advertising, merchandising, and public relations beginning with the early 20th century.

Students will apply theoretical concepts regarding communication and consumer behavior to explanations of common practices in strategic communication.

Students will master verbal, visual, and written communication styles essential to success in strategic communication profession.

Students will summarize career paths available in all three emphasis areas of the Strategic Communication Program.

Students will contribute to the effective development of a capstone experience (the development of an advertising campaign, the development of a public relations plan, or the development of a fashion retail entrepreneurial business).

Students will demonstrate proficiency with relevant technology used in the strategic communication profession.

Emphasis Level Learning Outcomes – Advertising

Students will interpret an organization’s marketing information and write advertising objectives appropriate for stated marketing goals.

Students will define important advertising terms relevant to media planning, design and copywriting.

Students will describe a general history of advertising beginning in the early 20th century and extending to current time.

Students will describe key concepts in advertising and communication theory and relate those concepts to current practices in advertising.

Students will construct individual elements of advertising campaigns including writing and design for print advertising, writing radio copy and developing television storyboards.

Students will demonstrate a thorough understanding of career paths on both the client side and agency side of the advertising profession.

Students will contribute effectively to the development of a full advertising campaign in the capstone class.

Students will demonstrate proficiency in Adobe InDesign. Students will also demonstrate fundamental understanding of online advertising including search, social media and online display advertising principles.

Emphasis Level Learning Outcomes – Merchandising

Students will apply aesthetic principles of design to the development, selection, and evaluation of apparel and other textile products as well as retail environments.

Students will develop a global awareness of the social, economic, technological, cultural and aesthetic factors influencing trends in design, merchandising, production, distribution, and consumption of textiles and apparel.

Students will recognize the interrelationships of off-shore and domestic sources of textiles and apparel in meeting world consumer demand.

Students will understand the impact of regulations, laws, and trade agreements on manufacturers, retailers, and consumers.

Students will develop sensitivity to ethical aspects of decision-making processes and develop a personal code of ethics and problem resolution.

Students will recognize relationships among aesthetic, cultural, economic, historic, psychological, sociological, and technological factors as a basis for understanding trends in fashion.

Students will demonstrate logic in solving analytical problems through location of appropriate supporting information and materials, evaluation of the information, and critical interpretation of results.

Students will apply knowledge of interrelationships among factors (materials, design, quality standards, production methods, profitability, end use, and consumer expectations) related to product development for specific target markets.

Students will understand the activities and technical and analytical skills involved in careers in the textile and apparel industry and related fields.

Students will know textile and apparel terminology as used in scientific, business, and consumer communities.

Emphasis Level-Learning Outcomes – Public Relations

Students will interpret an organization’s communication goals and develop appropriate achievable objectives that will show progress toward the achievement of those goals.

Students will define important public relations terms relevant to media relations, traditional constituent communication tools and online communication tools.

Students will describe a general history of public relations beginning in the early 20th century and extending to current time.

Students will describe key concepts in public relations and communication theory and relate those concepts to current practices in public relations.

Students will demonstrate understanding of work in the five job settings typical of public relations practitioners: corporations, nonprofit organizations and trade associations, governments, public relations agencies, and independent public relations consultancies.

Students will contribute effectively to the development of a full public relations campaign in the capstone class.

Students will demonstrate proficiency in Adobe InDesign. Students will also demonstrate proficiency in understanding and using online public relations processes including search engine optimization and social media engagement.

Take PR 372W to meet NAU's Junior-level writing requirement and PR 471C capstone, for this emphasis.

General Electives

Additional coursework is required, if, after you have met the previously described requirements, you have not yet completed a total of 120 units of credit.

You may take these remaining courses from any academic areas, using these courses to pursue your specific interests and goals. We encourage you to consult with your advisor to select the courses that will be most advantageous to you. (Please note that you may also use prerequisites or transfer credits as electives if they weren't used to meet major, minor, or liberal studies requirements.)

Additional Information

Be aware that some courses may have prerequisites that you must also take. For prerequisite information click on the course or see your advisor.